Carolina Beach, NC Lawyers for Family-Based Green Cards
A Family Preference Green Card permits particular family members of permanent residents and U.S. citizens to be granted permanent residence in Carolina Beach, NC and the United States in general. For U.S. citizens, the relatives they can bring to the U.S. with this type of green card include children, spouses and siblings (as long as the citizen is at least 21). For lawful permanent residents, relatives who could qualify for this type of green card include spouses and unmarried children of any age.
Permanent residency cards based on family preference do not have the same process as green cards meant for immediate family, which are meant for parents, spouses, and minor children of U.S. citizens. A family green card attorney near you in Carolina Beach, NC can help you to decide the correct type of green card category, reconnecting you with your family so you can begin or expand your life in the U.S. together.
Family-Based Green Cards: How Do They Work in Carolina Beach, NC?
To begin, the Carolina Beach, NC family member who is either a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident must file Form I-130, which is the Petition for Alien Relative. The form demonstrates the connection necessary for the sponsorship. Once that petition is approved, the family member who lives abroad must wait for visas to become accessible based on the date they apply and the annual visa quotas authorized by Congress. If the family member is legally in the United States, they can apply for their status to be adjusted through form I-485 and others.
Every eligible kind of family member has a defined preference categorization, which has a set annual cap specific to that category. First Preference, or F1, for example is assigned to U.S. citizens’ children who are older than 21 and unmarried. Only 23,400 family preference green cards are allocated to F1 out of 226,000 total each year. Carolina Beach, NC applicants often wait for years and, in some cases, decades for family preference green cards to be available.
Should You Hire a Family Immigration Attorney in Carolina Beach, NC?
Navigating the immigration procedures takes time and hard work and legal understanding. USCIS does not currently release specific wait times for the processing of family-based petitions, which can fluctuate substantially based on where you're immigrating from and your designated preference category. However, there are many reports of fifteen-year or greater waits for sibling, or F4, visas. When you face this kind of potential delay, you must apply as early as possible and with accurate information. Your Carolina Beach, NC family immigration lawyer can assist with all the required paperwork and correctly file it for your specific visa type.
Immigration lawyers in Carolina Beach, NC can assist you in complying with regulations and laws that change regularly and interpret complex documentation. They understand the tight application timeline and can help you or your family members prepare for visa interviews. When you have a strong legal team working with you and your family, you can shorten potential delays, undergo a more seamless process, and increase your probability of a positive result.
Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Carolina Beach, NC: Your Family Immigration Attorney
When you or a family member decides to pursue a family-based green card, partner with the professionals at Weinstock Immigration Lawyers in Carolina Beach, NC. Our founder moved to the United States as an immigrant, and numerous members of our team are immigrants or have family members who immigrated here. Our multicultural, multilingual team will assist your family through the legal immigration system and experience some of the industry's highest rates of success.* We're ready to assist with your and your family member's immigration needs. Start today with a free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Prior results do not guarantee a similar result.